Jessica Szohr

Jessica Karen Szohr (;) is an American actress. She started her screen career appearing on television shows such as ''My Wife and Kids'' (2003), ''Joan of Arcadia'' (2004), ''What About Brian'' (2007) and '' CSI: Miami'' (2007). She gained recognition in 2007 with her breakthrough role as Vanessa Abrams on The CW's teen drama series ''Gossip Girl'' (2007–2012). She has appeared in feature films including the horror film '' Piranha 3D'' (2010), the comedy film '' I Don't Know How She Does It'' (2011), the comedy film '' The Internship'' (2013) and the comedy film ''Ted 2'' (2015). Her recent television credits include '' Complications'' (2015), '' Kingdom'' (2015), ''Twin Peaks'' (2017) and '' Shameless'' (2017–18). Since 2018, she has been a main cast member of the Fox/Hulu science fiction series ''The Orville'', as Talla Keyali.

Early life

Szohr was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She is of Hungarian and one-quarter Black ancestry. The oldest of five children (Megan, Danielle, Nick and Sadie), Szohr played soccer, served on the student council, and was part of the cheerleading squad while in school. She started a cleaning company with a friend, cleaning their teachers' houses.

Szohr started modeling at age six. Her first national campaign was for Quaker Oats at age ten, and she also appeared in print ads for Kohl's department store. Subsequent modeling gigs followed, including prints for Crate & Barrel, Mountain Dew, Sears, Jockey and JanSport. Szohr graduated from Menomonee Falls High School a semester early and moved to Los Angeles with her mother at the age of 17 to pursue an acting career. She told '' Seventeen'' magazine that she "almost moved home like five times." She initially aspired to become an interior designer and had enrolled in Columbia College Chicago, but her agent ultimately convinced her to try pilot season auditions.

Career

Szohr made her debut as an actress in 2003 in an episode of the third season of ''My Wife and Kids'', titled "Not So Hostile Takeover". Her first film was '' Uncle Nino'' (2003), playing a minor role as The MC. She appeared in numerous guest roles in teen television series such as ''That's So Raven'', ''Drake & Josh'', '' What I Like About You'', and ''Joan of Arcadia''. She also appeared in three episodes of '' CSI: Miami'' as Samantha Barrish.

In 2007, she appeared in a major recurring role as Laura for six episodes in the ABC dramedy series ''What About Brian''. Along with Stacy Keibler, she played a neighbor to the leading role, Brian O'Hara ( Barry Watson). She also appeared in the music videos for "Best Days" by Matt White and " Over You" by Daughtry, in which she played Sarah.

In the same year, Szohr earned her breakthrough role on the hit CW teen drama series ''Gossip Girl''. She plays Vanessa Abrams. Szohr said of her character: "Vanessa doesn't change for other people. She says what she thinks. ..she's just a badass girl from Brooklyn". The portrayal of Vanessa has drawn criticism from Ziegesar. Originally cast as a recurring role, Szohr was promoted to series regular after the season one episode " The Blair Bitch Project" in April 2008. In May 2011, it was confirmed Szohr would not be returning for the fifth season. She returned in for a cameo appearance on the series finale, " New York, I Love You XOXO", on December 17, 2012.

Szohr has appeared in small roles in films such as '' Somebody Help Me'', '' The Reading Room'' and '' Fired Up''. She signed on to Dimension Films' horror '' Piranha 3D'', in the role of Kelly. The role required her to be underwater; Szohr later told the ''New York Daily News'' filming was difficult because she was "not the best swimmer." Filming began in June 2009, and the film was pushed back from its original release date in March to August 2010. She also appeared in a Funny or Die video promoting the film alongside Kelly Brook and others.

Szohr was awarded the Breakthrough Actress in Film award at the 2010 Breakthrough of the Year awards for her work in ''Piranha 3D''.

In April 2010, Szohr joined the cast of the romantic comedy '' Love, Wedding, Marriage'', along with Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz. The film began principal photography in April 2010 and was filmed in New Orleans

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